Strainer



Sept 5511944 T. TMLlNsoN 2,357,438

sTRAINER Filed Ap'ril 27', 1943 Snventor 75mm 70W/ham Patented Sept. 5, 1944 ThomasTomlinson,pSp'okanerWash. Y I -App1icati0nApril--27, 1943, serial No. 484,685

geminis.. cielo-eren' IThis invention relates vto strainer-s and.mor.e particularly 'to a `strainer bymeans of vwhic'xhfdirt or a skin of 'dried paint .may beseparate'dgfrom paintrthus renderingithecleared paintt'for use.

One object of` the "invention is to provide a strainer wherein the straining element consists of cloth or wire which may be very easily applied to a supporting frame from which it is suspended without likelihood of slipping loose and also permit the straining element to be easily removed and disposed of after paint has been strained.

Another object of the invention is to provide the strainer with a frame adapted to be set in place upon a paint can or similar receptacle, the frame being so supported upon the can that it will not be liable to slip out of proper position thereon during a straining operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame having a handle carrying a plate which serves as a reinforcement for the handle and also as an element upon which an advertisement may be displayed. Another object of the invention is to provide a strainer which is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and capable of being manufactured cheaply and sold at a low price.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the improved strainer.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a strainer of modified construction.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View of a modified form of frame for the strainer.

The improved strainer constituting the subject matter of the present invention is especially adapted for straining paint in order to remove dirt which accumulates in paint and also skin formed upon the upper surface of paint as when paint in a partially filled can dries, but, it is to be understood that it may be used for straining other liquids.

This strainer has an open frame or ring I formed from a strand of stiff wire bent to form the ring and also bent to form a handle 2 projecting from the ring radially thereof. This handle has side bars 3 which are straight and spaced from each other transversely of the handle, and, at the junction of the inner end of the handle with the ring or frame portion of the wire strand, are bowed inwardly, as shown at 4, to form a reduced neck having inwardly curved side edges. A yoke 5 which is substantially U-shaped and may also be formed of a wire strand, is disposed in the neck in bridging relation thereto and arms 6 of this yoke are welded or otherwise firmly secured against inner side surfaces of the bowed VVportions E4 forming .the Qneek` 'offVv the ihandle, .A `Aplate Tformedofs'heet metalfextends across-the handle with its iside,- edge. portions.- 8.rol1ed Y'clownwardlyand.,solderedrtolthe.sidetbarssof the hanldle. plate extends entirely .across-the, handle' for 'the major portion of "thelength thereof and serves very effectively to brace thehandle. Since the plate is flat and has a smooth and unobstructed surface, a trade-mark, advertisement, dealers name, or other display matter, may be provided upon the upper surface of the plate where it will be prominently displayed and can be easily seen and read.

A strainer sheet 9, formed of fabric, wire mesh, or other suitable material, is carried by the frame or ring. This strainer sheet is applied to the frame as shown in Fig. 1, and is of such dimensions that t will sag downwardly through the frame, adapting it to hold aV quantity of paint poured into the strainer to drip through the same into a paint can or other suitable receptacle IIJ. The strainer sheet is suspended from the frame and, in order to accomplish this, the frame or ring carries prongs II which are rigid with the frame and the yoke and project upwardly therefrom in spaced relation to each other circumferentially of the frame. The frame rests on the upper edge of the wall of the paint can during a straining operation with the strainer sheet sagging into the can.

It is desirable to prevent the frame from slipping out of place upon the upper edge of the can and in order to do so the prongs may be formed as shown in Fig. 2. Referring to this figure, it will be seen that each prong is formed from a short wire strand I2 having its upper portion bent transversely so that it may have straddling engagement with the ring I. Upper extremities of the short strands forming the prongs are bent upwardly and sharpened to form spurs I3 and, when the strands are welded to the ring I, their lower portions project downwardly therefrom to form arms I4 which will engage the outer surface of the wall of the can I0 and prevent the ring from slipping out of place upon the can.

In Fig. 3, another form of ring or frame has been illustrated. In this embodiment of the invention the ring or band is formed of plastic and a suitable number of short pins I6 are embedded during molding of the ring. These pins extend transversely of the ring and project from the outer peripheral portion thereof a sufficient distance to penetrate a strainer sheet and suspend the sheet from the ring,

When the strainer is in use, the sheet is applied ythereto and the ring then set in place on the upper edge of the Wall of a can with the sagging portion of the sheet extending downwardly into the can. Paint or other liquid to be strained is then poured into the sagging sheet and, as the liquid drips through the sheet and into the can, dirt and skin formed by dried paint will be held back and prevented from entering the can with the liquid paint, After the paint has been strained, the handle is grasped andhtlfievframe lifted fremtneclan` 'Trie sheet 's'then' detached from the prongs and the frame putawayV until again needed, or, if it is to be immediately used posed of or cleaned and retained for future use.- H

claimed is:

Having thus described the invention;v fwhati-i'sr 1. A strainer comprising astrand bent to form an open frame and a at handle extending v.rieten-6.20

ally from said frame and having side bars, Vforward portions of the'sidebars being bowed inwardly to formja-neck of reduced Widthimerging into the frame, 'a substantially U'shaped yoke in said neck in bridging relation thereto with its arms extending rearwardly thereof and secured against inner surfaces of the neck-forming porg ,l y 2. A strainer comprising an open frame formed again, a clean sheet is applied. The sheet rei--7a moved from the frame may, of course, be disY from a. strand, a handle for said frame, and -prongs for detachably supporting a strainer sheet from` the frame, said prongs being formed from strands of`wire mounted upon the frame transversely thereof with their upper ends projecting yupwardly therefrom for penetrating and support- Ving ia" strainer-cloth and their other end portions projecting downwardly `from the outer peripheryof the frame for engaging the wall of a 'receptacle kand holding the ring in placeon the upper edge 'of the receptacle wall.

' THOMAS TOMLINSON. 

